Marathon Classic to be cool, sunny

The best female golfers in the world will convene at Highland Meadows Golf Club this week for the Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I.

Defending Marathon Classic champion Beatriz Recari, along with the likes of Stacy Lewis, Michelle Wie, and Cristie Kerr, are expected to be among a stacked LPGA field looking to snare the top prize from a tournament offering a $1.4 million purse.

Ideal weather is expected and should be conducive for some good golf during the week on the par-71 course, which covers 6,512 yards.

Put concerns to rest about hot and humid temperatures making it unbearable for fans to attend the four-day tournament, which begins on Thursday and ends with the final round taking place on Sunday. This isn’t expected to be a repeat of some recent past tournaments in which rain, temperatures hovering in the 90s, and high humidity played a part during the week.

"At this point, it looks like temperatures will be below normal for this time of the year," said Berschback, adding that normal temperatures for the Toledo area in mid-July typically hover around 85 degrees.

Berschback's forecast for the four days are mid 70s for Thursday, upper 70s Friday, close to 80 on Saturday, and low 80s on Sunday.

Besides comfortable temperatures, clear skies are expected, and rain is not in the forecast.

"The chance of rain over the four days should hold out until after the golf on Sunday or Sunday night," he said.

Lewis, a Toledo native, enters the week currently ranked No. 1 on the 2014 money list and had earned just under $1.9 million through 15 events. She added onto that by tying for 12th in this past weekends Women’s British Open. Wie ranks second having earned $1.6 million through 14 events, followed by Lydia Ko ($828,042), Inbee Park ($788,565), and Anna Nordqvist ($773,779) to round out the Top 5 money leaders.

A year ago, Recari finished first at the 2013 Marathon Classic by shooting 17-under 267 to edge Paula Creamer (16-under 268) by a stroke. Creamer won the 2008 tournament.

The Golf Channel will provide daily coverage of the tournament from 3 p.m to 5 pm.

Local television and radio stations will also provide coverage, including live shots and news reports from Highland Meadows.

Channel 13's sports department, anchored by sports director Dave Holmes, will air the Marathon Classic Tee Off Show on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to preview the local LPGA event in which proceeds are used to support local children's charities.